Turning device



June l0, 1952 E. J. KRATZENBERG' -TURNING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 E. J. KRATZENBERG TURNING DEVICE 2 smE'rs-'SHEET 2 Filed Dec'. l0, 1949 INVENT OR mmHmnm dNN dON mmf EDWlN J. KRATZENBERG BY Mm ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1952 TURNING DEVICE Edwin J. Kratzenberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor.. to United States Steel Company, a corporation `of New Jersey Application December 10, 1949, Serial No. 132,308

This invention relates to turning devices particulrly for turning articles axially, such as steel billet'sbetween successive roll passes.

Inirolling billets, forexamplathe usual practice is to turn each billet axially 90 after each pass through the rolls. As billets leave a heatingffurnace, vtheir lower faces are cooler than their upper faces-and they mustnot be rolled with'their cool faces up or theircends will bow upwardly so that they cannot enter the next pass. Therefore! in successive passes' billets are oriented with the cool vface directed alternately toward one side and downwardly. Billets can have 'only a closely restricted lateral motion between passes, orl else they would not be in position to enter the succeeding pass. y y

vAnobject of the present invention is to provide improved turning devices which mechanically turn articles axially while changing their lateral position only within 'a `closely restricted distance.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved devices for turning Aarticles whichy are traveling along `a supporting and conveying structure, such as a roller table, and keepingthe ma'jo'r portion of the weight of the article on thesupporting and conveying structure during the turning operation. A

A further object o f the invention is to provide improved turning devices'which include a tumbler adapted to roll laterally and having an open'sector for receiving and turning articles,l

such rolling compensating for shifting of the article, whereby the article remains within a closely restricted lateral space.

AA. further object of the invention is to provide improved turning devices which mechanically turn articles such as billets axially and keep successivelarticles in the same orientation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the '.invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of an improved turning device which embodies features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the parts in a different position; and

Figure 4 is avvertical sectional view taken substantiallyon line IV-IV of Figure 1.

'Figure l illustrates the turning device of the present invention in conjunction with a roller table, which includes the usual beams I0, rollersv I2 'and side guards I3. These rollers and guards 12 Claims. (Cl. 198-n33) 2 direct articles,.such asV billets` B,-between-suc cessive roll passes, not shownfbut which can be of any standardconstruction.

The turning device of the present invention comprises a main-frame which is fixed across the roller. table beams VI 0 between a pair of rollers I2,` guards I3 beingvinterrupted in this space. Said frame includes spaced parallel transverse beams I4 and braces I5 bolted or otherwise secured together to form a rigid structure. The inner faces of beams III carry fixed trackmembers I6. The-upper faces of said beams-carry a stand II,tlie position of which can be adjusted along the length of the beams. Conveniently dowel pins I8 retain the stand in its adjusted position on' the beams, the upper flanges of the beams having a series of apertures I9 for receiving said dowel pins. The stand has upright pins 2! on the left and 20a on the right which carry' means, such as tapered rollers 2| and 2Ia. respectively forl guiding articles as they turn within the device as hereinafter explained. Preferably brace structures 22 and 22a extend across thestand and are connected to the upright pins to stilfen them. These braces can have handles. I

fluid pressure cylinder 26 and a double-acting n piston 21 mounted for reciprocable movement in said cylinder. A piston rod 28 and a connecting bar 29 connect said piston and carriage chassis 23. Therefore reciprocation of the pistonl Within the cylinder moves the carriage along the trackway. Y Y f The carriage supports a tumbler 30 Within the confines of Vstand I'I. The carriage chassis 23 has inwardly extending flanges 3| (Figure 4) and the outer surface of the tumbler has a cylindrical portion V32 which rests on said flanges.,` A first pair lof flexible elements 33 (Figures 2 and 3) is connected to the upper edge of cylindrical surface portion 32 at 34, extends around this surface,-` and isconnected'to the carriage chassis at 35. A second pair of flexible elements 36 is connectedvto the lower edge fof cylindrical surface portion. `32'at 31, extends' around this surface, and is connected to the carriage chassis at 38. The tumbler includes an on center pin .39 which has protruding end portions that ride above the carriage top. Stand |1 has abutments 1 side and is adapted to receive articles.

Figure2 shows the position of the parts when piston 21 is in its 'fully extended position. The

open sector 4| of tumbler 30 occupies the upper right quadrant of the tumbler. One radial face 42 of this sector is horizontal and is situated approximately a half inch below the upper sur-Y face of table rollers |2. The other radial facev 43 of this sector is upright and is spaced somewhat outwardly of the inner faces-of tapered rollers 2| on the left. In this position the open sector of the tumbler can receive an article, such as face 43 is horizontal and is situated about a half I inch below the tops of rollers I2. VThe open section thus is positioned to Ydischarge the article to the roller table with the article turned axially 90.

When the piston moves between the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, the carriage moves along Vtrack members I6. `Flexible elements 36 in effect gear the tumbler to the carriage chassis l so that movement of the carriage moves the tumbler and 'article laterally until the Varticle contacts rollers 2|a on the right. Further movementpf thecarriage rolls the tumbler counterclockwise along flanges 3| of the carriage chassis 23.4 As the tumbler rolls, flexible elements 36 unwind from cylindrical surface portion 32 while the other flexibleelements 33 wind on this surface portion. Other connecting means, such as a rackV on the carriage and gear teeth on the tumblenwould be mechanically equivalent to the exible elements. The tumbler continues to roll until Vthe article and the` tumbler turn counterclockwise 90. VThereupon the ltumbler (but not the article) resumes its lateral movement along with the carriage. The carriage and tumbler continue to move laterally until piston 21 completes its stroke, which ycan be anywhere in advance of the point of engagement of pin 39 with abutments 40a on the right.

As the article is turning, it pivots about its lower left edge as viewed in Figure 2, or its lower right edge 'as viewed in Figure 3. The major portion of the weight of the article remains on the roller table. weight carriage and tumbler can Aturn a heavy article, such as, for example, a one ton billet. The initial lateral movement of the tumbler car- `ries the article laterally to the right side of the Therefore a relatively lightV pass and the subsequent'rolling of the tumbler and `pivoting of the article about its lowerV edge returns it to the left side of the pass. Pin 39 is located olf-center to remove it fromV the open sector of the tumbler'where the article rests.

After thearticle leaves the tumbler, and the piston completes its stroke, the carriage can turn Y to the position shown in Figure 2. VAs the carriage returns, the tumblertends merely to move laterally with the carriage without turning until pin 39 `contactsabutments 40 on the left. On

' continued movement of the carriage beyond this position, flexible elementsV 33 unwind from the cylindrical surface portion and turn the tumbler clockwise. The other flexible elements 36 wind on the cylindrical surface portion. Thus the tumbler reaches a position in which it is ready to receive anotherV article. The turning device can be double-acting; that is, it can turn another article axially on its return stroke. However, for turning billets I prefer that it be single-acting in order that the billets always turn in the same direction so that the same orientation is preserved on succeeding billets.

Conveniently photo-electric means 44 can be employed for controlling operation of piston 21. Said photo-electric means can be focused ahead of the turning device soY that as the article reaches the proper position with respect to the turning device it actuates the photo-electric means. The latter then actuates piston 21 through any convenient circuit. After the article leaves the turning device, the photo-electric means can return the turning device to its original position.

Preferably connecting bar 29 is replaceable with bars of different lengths. VWhen stand |1 is adjusted to a dilerent position on the mainV frame, bar 29 can be replaced to elect a correspondingy adjustment in the right and left positions of the carriage and tumbler without changing the position of cylinder 26. Otherwise this cylinder can be adjustably mounted on supporting platform 25. Also the tapered rollers 2| and 2|a can be made laterally adjustable to narrow or widen the pass for smaller or larger articles.V

From the foregoing description it is seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical mechanical deviceV for turning articles axially, for example, steel billets between roll passes. The device maintains such articles within a restricted lateral space as they turn, and successive articles in the same orientation. The supporting and conveying structure, such as the roller table illustrated, carries the majorportion of the weight of the article at all times.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. For example, by proper positioning of the stop means and adjusting of the piston stroke, the tumblercan turn through angles other than Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only the scope of the appended claims.

l. A turning device comprising a frame, a carriage movably supported on said frame; article receiving means supported on said carriage for rolling movement with respect thereto, stop means iixed with respect to said framefor limiting movement of said article receiving means. and connecting means between said article receiving means and said -carriage for rolling said article receiving means when said carriage moves beyond'the position at which said stop means limits movement of said article receiving means.

2. A'turnirng device comprising a main frame,

, 3. A turning device comprising a main frame.

a carriage, means movably supporting said carriage on said main frame, article guiding means on` said main frame, a tumbler supported for lateral rolling movement along said carriage and having an open sector adapted to receive articles, stop means fixed with respect to said main frame and with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, and means connecting saidcarriage and said tumbler and rolling tumbler and thereby turning an article carried therein when said carriage moves either beyond a position in which the articles engage said guiding means or beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said stop means.'

A4. A turning device comprising a main frame, a car'riage, track means movably supporting said carriage on said-main frame, article guiding means on said main frame, a tumbler supported for lateral rolling movement along said carriage and having an'open sector ladapted to receive articles, abutments fixed with respect to said main frame and with which said tumbler vis engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, flexible elements connecting said carriage and said tumbler and rolling said tumbler and thereby turning an article carried therein when said carriage moves either beyond a position in which the article` engages said guiding means or beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said abutments, and motive means for moving said carriage.

5. A turning device comprising a main frame,

' acarriage, track means movably supporting said carriage on said main frame, upstanding article guiding means on said main frame, a tumbler having a cylindrical outer surface portion supported for lateral rolling movement along said carriage and having an open sector adapted to receive articles, abutments fixed with respect to said main frame and with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, and means connecting said carriage and said tumbler and rolling said tumbler and thereby turning an article carried therein when said carriage moves either beyond a position in which the article engages said guiding means or beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said abutments.

6. A turning device comprising a main frame, a carriage, track means movably supporting said carriage on said main frame, upstanding article guiding means -on said main frame, a tumbler having a cylindrical outer surface portion supported for lateral rolling movement along said carriage and having an open sector adapted to receive articles, abutments fixed with respect to said main frame and with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, first fiexible elements connected to one edge of the cylindrical surface portion of said tumbler, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, and second flexible elements connected to the other edge of the cylindrical surface portion, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, said flexible elements rolling said tumbler and thereby turning an article carried therein when said carriage moves either beyond a position in which the article engages said guiding means or beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said abutments.

7. A turning device comprising a main frame, a stand adjustably carried on said main frame, article guiding means on said stand, track means fixed to said main frame, a carriage movably supported onV said trackv means, a tumbler supported for lateralrolling movement on said carriage-within the confines of said stand and having an open sector adapted to receive articles, abutments on said stand with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, and means' connecting said carriage and said tumbler and rolling said tumbler when said carriage moves beyond positon in Whichsaid tumbler engages said abutments.

. 8. Aturning device comprising a main frame, a stand. adjustably carried on said main frame, track means fixed to said mainframe, a carriage movably supported on said track means, a tumbler having a cylindrical outer surface portion supported for lateral rolling movement along said carriage within the confines of said stand and havingan open sector adapted to receive artie1es,abutments on said stand with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, first fexible elements connected to one edge of the cylindrical surface portion of said tumbler, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, second flexible elements connected to the other edge of the cylindrical surface portion, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, said fiexibleelements rolling said tumbler when said carriage moves 'beyond vpositions in which said tumbler engages said abutments, and motivemeans formoving said carriage.

9. A Vturning device comprising ya main frame, a stand adjustably carried on said main frame, upstanding rollers on said stand for guiding articles, track means fixed to said main frame, a carriage movably supported on said track means, a tumbler having a cylindrical outer surface portion supported for lateral rolling movement along said carriage Within the confines of said stand and having an open sector adapted to receive articles, abutments on said stand with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the lateral positions of said tumbler, first flexible elements connected to one edge of the cylindrical surface portion of said tumbler, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, second flexible elements connected to the other edge of the cylindrical surface portion, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, said flexible elements rolling said tumbler and thereby turning an article carried therein when said carriage moves either beyond a position in which the article engages said upstanding rollers or beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said abutments, and motive means for moving said carriage.

10. In combination with an article supporting and conveying means, a turning device comprising a main frame transverse to said supportingand conveying means, a carriage, means supporting said carriage for movement on said main frame transversely of movement of articles on said supporting and conveying means, a tumbler supported on said carriage for rolling movement transversely of movement of articles on said supporting and conveying means and having an open sector for receiving articles from said supporting and conveying means, abutments fixed with respect to said main frame and with which. said tumbler is engageable for limiting the transverse positions of said tumbler, means connecting said carriage and said tumbler and rolling said tumbler when said carriage moves beyond positions in which said tumbler engages said abutments, and motive means for said carriage.

11. In combination with an article supporting and conveying means, a turning device comprising a main frame transverse to said supporting and conveying means, a carriage, track means movably supporting said carriage on said main frame for movement transversely of movement of articles on said supporting and conveying means, a tumbler having a cylindrical outer surface portion supported on said carriage for rolling movement transversely of movement of articles on said supporting and conveying means, and having anV open sector for receiving articles from said supporting and conveying means, abutments fixed with respect to said main frame and with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the transverse positions of said tumbler,

` first iiexible elements connected to oneedge of the cylindrical surface portion of said tumbler, ex tending 'around this portion and being connected to said carriage, second exible elements coninected to the other edge of the cylindrical surn-k face portion, extending around this portion and being connected to said carriage, said exible ele` ments rolling saidtumbler when said carriage moves beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said stop means, and motive means for moving said carriage.` Y 12. 'In combination with an article supportin and 'conveying means, a turning device compris'- ing a main frame transverse to said supporting and conveying means, Ya stand adjustably carried on said main frame, article guiding means on said stand, track means lfixed to said main frame, a carriage supported on said track means for movement transversely of movement of articles onrsaid supporting and conveying means. a tumbler supported on said carriage within the connes of said stand for rolling movement transversely of movement of articles on said supporting and conveying means and having an open sector adapted to receive articles, abutments on said' stand with which said tumbler is engageable for limiting the transverse positions of said tumbler, means connecting said carriage and said tumbler and rolling said tumbler and thereby turning an article carried therein when said carriage moves either beyond a position in which the article engages said article guiding means or beyond a position in which said tumbler engages said abutments, and motive means for moving said carriage.

EDWIN J. KRATZENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 8, 1890 

